The drive from my home in Longview, Texas, to Fort Worth takes about three hours. Considering how far I typically drive to fish most Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments, that’s a relatively short distance. But the trip still gave me time to think through all the details and variables I’ll have to consider for the 2025 Bassmaster Classic.
I have to take into consideration the wind and weather, along with the fish movement that I know about from fishing Lake Ray Roberts for several years. I have to calculate all of these things and figure out how to practice the lake, and more importantly, how to produce the biggest bag of fish during the tournament.
Over four days of practice, I need to try and see as much of the lake as I can, but obviously, you don’t want to be seen on your best stuff. It’s basically the same plan I follow during an Elite event, only at a higher level.
I think the biggest variable we’ll face during Classic week will be the wind. Practice will see 20 to 30 mph winds with significantly higher gusts and that will muddy up a lot of water and put a lot of guys in the same areas.
Big winds during practice will limit where you can run, so guys may not be able to reach some of the offshore stuff every day. It’s also supposed to blow hard out of different directions during the Classic, so that’s something I’ll have to plan for.
Temperature-wise, it’s beautiful in North Texas. We’ve had daytime highs in the low 80s and, even though we’ll have a little cool down right before the Classic, the tournament days will be right back up into the 70s and low 80s.
I think this is going to open up a lot of opportunities with guys catching them from a foot to 40 feet. I’ll definitely be looking out deep and shallow.
It’ll be mainly a prespawn tournament and that should be really exciting because the fish will be at their heaviest weight of the year. We’re definitely going to see some big bags, and I think we’ll break the all-time weight record for a three-day Classic.
I think you’re gonna need close to 30 pounds if not 30-plus one day and then a couple days of heavy 20s, but you won’t be able to catch that off one spot three days in a row. You’ll have to have progressions to catch fish off different spots.
It’s hard to catch fish for multiple days out of the same area on this lake. I think whoever wins will have to have multiple areas and multiple things going.
Winning this Classic won’t be easy, but I’m super excited to be competing. The last time the Classic was on Ray Roberts in 2021, I didn’t qualify. I was so upset that year because I feel like I understand this lake.
I’ve fished the lake a couple of times since 2021, but I’m really looking forward to competing in this year’s Classic.
I’ve wanted a little shot at revenge, and this is my chance.
